Exploring Music Course: Choral Music

Music. Learn, enjoy, appreciate.

From Handel’s Messiah to Orff’s Carmina Burana, choral music has always thrilled and inspired us. We use choirs for important occasions, for celebrations and mourning, and when we want to speak together with one voice.

This course provides a guide to understanding and enjoying Western choral music, with a look at its history and its most common forms, including the Mass, the Requiem, the oratorio and the cantata. For beginners and experienced listeners alike.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

list some of the main periods of choral music and briefly describe them

list some of the main choral music composers

list some major choral works and describe their place in the history of choral music.

Content

Topics we will cover:

An introduction to choral music

Soprano, alto, tenor and bass

How the voice types work together in four-part harmony

Texture in choral music

Gregorian chant and the Medieval Modes

Choral music in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Choral music in the Baroque Period

Choral music in the Classical and Romantic Periods

Choral music in the twentieth century

The Oratorio

Masses and Requiems

The Cantata

Music we will listen to:

Bach: Mass in B minor, Matthew Passion

Mozart: Requiem, Coronation Mass

Handel: Messiah,

Orff: Carmina Burana

Vivaldi: Gloria

Haydn: The Creation

The music of Palestrina

Beethoven: Choral Symphony, Ode to Joy

Brahms: The German Requiem

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

Mahler: Symphony of a Thousand

Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast

The choral music of Benjamin Britten

Faure: Requiem

Verdi: Requiem

Mendelssohn: Elijah

Intended audience

Designed for fans of classical music, beginners and experienced listeners alike. No prior musical knowledge is required.

Delivery style

Lecture/seminar

Materials

Handouts are provided in class.

Features

Expert trainers

Central locations

Small class sizes

Free, expert advice

Student materials – yours to keep

Statement of completion

Sessions:

Location:

Tutors:

Price:

Exploring Music Course: Choral Music

<p>{block name:“Course Tagline - Music”}</p><p>From Handel’s Messiah to Orff’s Carmina Burana, choral music has always thrilled and inspired us. We use choirs for important occasions, for celebrations